Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at all of the past five race weekends.
The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the title advantage from his teammate by one point after his victory in Mexico City a fortnight back, beat the Melbourne-born driver by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Before then, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at 6:30 PM GMT.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in the championship fight, lying 36 points Norris, was classified in 17th position as his Red Bull team followed a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, if briefly, when he rotated at Turn Four soon after starting.
The Japanese slid over the curbs on exit before sliding over the escape zone, and was lucky to get away with just a slight brush of the fence.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also spun, at the very end of the practice, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn before the final corner on to the main straight.
The veteran ended the session in 19th place, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber P3, 0.619secs off the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' George Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
